Steering roll construction with slidable pivot



Jan. 16, 1962 R. E. WATT ETAL 3,017,062

STEERING ROLL CONSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABLE PIVOT Filed Nov. 1'7, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 16, 1962 R. E. WATT ETAL 3,017,062

STEERING ROLL CONSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABLE PIVOT Filed Nov. 17. 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 JZZW I 44621 1121 Jan. 16, 1962 R. E. WATT ETAL 3,017,062

STEERING ROLL CONSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABLE PIVOT Filed Nov. 17, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 16, 1962 R. E. WATT ETAL 3,017,062

STEERING ROLL CONSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABLE PIVOT Filed Nov. 17, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 o a 50 4 7 450 WWW mw Jan. 16, 1962 R. E. WATT ETAL 3,017,062

STEERING ROLL CONSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABLE PIVOT Filed Nov. 17,1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 16, 1962 R. E. WATT ETAL STEERING ROLL CONSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABLE PIVOT 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Nov. 17, 1959 IHHHIII' m 6 0 a J w It M w E J 2 A M m h 8 r l'l MM w ua. 3. a 0 w mw Sea United States Patent 3,017,062 STEERING RQLL CUNSTRUCTION WITH SLIDABIJE PIVUI Robert E. Watt and Carl L. Deeken, Danville, Iii, assignors to Electric Eye Equipment Company, Danville, 111.,

a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 17, 1959, Ser. No. 853,615 16 Claims. ((Ii. 226-1$t)) This invention relates generally to steering roll constructions, and more particularly is concerned with a steering roll for a moving web in which the pivot supporting the entire structure carrying the roll may be moved to change the position along the rotational axis of the roll.

In a co-pending application, Serial No. 718,057, filed February 27, 1958, now Patent No. 2,940,752, by one of the applicants herein, entitled Steering Roll Construction and assigned to the same applicant as that herein there is described a steering roll construction which is used in a high speed continuous web printing press for the purpose of continuously controlling the lateral position of the paper web as it passes through the press. It has been found that the use of a steering roll for such purpose is best utilized When the pivot of the roll about which the entire roll swivels, that is, the pivot which is normal to the axis of the roll is spaced rearward of the roll axis. This refers to the direction of the web and means that the pivotal or swivel axis is adjacent the oncoming portion of the Web. For purposes of this discussion, the roll proper will be said to have a rotational axis and the entire structure will have a pivotal axis.

With this principle in mind, the structures of said copending application were used with a system in which there was a lateral position sensing apparatus spaced somewhere forward of the location of the steering roll that was responsive to the lateral position of the paper web to provide an electrical error signal which was translated into a mechanical movement adjusting the attitude of the steering roll relative its pivotal axis. Such a control arrangement is described and claimed in a second copending application which is assigned to the same assignee as this application, said second co-pending application bearing Serial No. 801,503, filed March 24, 1959, by Joseph C. Frommer and Ulrich R. Furst and entitled Web Guide Control.

In said first co-pending application, it was explained that upon occasion the Width of the paper web which it is desired to run through the press is less than that which occupies the entire effective length of the roll. A structure with a permanent pivot mounting can accommodate such a web only in the center of the roll. For a variety of reasons, it is customary to pass partial Width Webs through printing presses with the web spaced from the center of the rolls. All of the impression, back-up and idler rolls of the press are occupied on one side of their centers.

The said first co-pending application disclosed a structure which had a plurality of pivot mountings that were arranged along the length of the frame structure supporting the steering roll, and the operator could choose whichever one of these mountings he Wished, could disconnect the roll structure from one and connect it to the other in order that the web travel over the roll on one side of center.

The invention herein comprises a substantial improvement over the multiple-pivot steering roll described. The primary objects of the invention are to provide a steering roll structure which eliminates many of the disadvantages of the multiple-pivot steering roll, and, while using the basic concept of such structure, provide a steering roll structure in which theoretically the number of pivot points 3,017,062 Patented Jan. 16, 1962 possible is infinite. This is done by providing a sliding pivot.

Among the disadvantages of the structure of said first co-pending application are the following, in addition to the fact that the number of pivot points available was limited because of the finite space necessarily occupied by each pivot structure. The duplication of pivot structures on both the support for the printing roll itself and the framework upon which the roll structure is to swing is expensive and wasteful, because only one of the entire group is ever used at any one time, and for unusual widths of web, the pivot structures are rarely used and stand idle most of the time. The additional pivot structures add weight both to the swinging structure of the roll and to its support framework. Probably the greatest disadvantage is the need for disconnecting the one pair of cooperating pivot structures and connecting the other, a procedure which requires special tools and considerable of a workmans time. p

The invention is characterized by a simple and effective arrangement providing a slidable pivot or swivel structure which may be adjusted to any of a plurality of desired positions and locked in that position.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the descriptions of preferred embodiments are set forth hereinafter in connection with which the drawings will illustrate the same in the environment in which used and with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in this art to understand and appreciate the invention.

In the drawings in which the same reference characters are used throughout the several views to designate the same or equivalent parts:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view with parts in elevation taken through a portion of a printing press and showing the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken generally from the rear of the structure of FIG. 1 along the line 22 and in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view through the pivot shifting or sliding mechanism along the line 33 of FIG. 4 and in the indicated direction.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the structure showing the manual adjusting means for sliding the pivot.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the pivot shifting mechanism along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and in the indicated direction.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the structure.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detailed perspective view of a portion of the actuating mechanism of the steering roll structure showing certain details relating to position indication.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the locking mechanism for holding the steering roll structure in position while shifting the pivot.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken through the modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9 along the line 1010 and in the indicated direction.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view through still another modified form of the invention.

The invention herein is characterized by the provision of a slidable pivot or swivel structure for mounting a steering roll. The steering roll as it is known comprises an elongate metal cylinder which is journalled on a framework called a yoke which is mounted for pivotal swinging of a limited amount on a pivot that is oifset rearwardly from the rotational axis of the cylinder. Usually the swinging pivot, which is normal. to the rotational pivot, is spaced rearwardly of the rotational axis by the 3 radius of the steering roll, so that the swivel is on an axis in the plane of the web reach which is moving toward the steering roll. Thus, swinging of the roll about the pivot will practically not affect the lateral position of the oncoming reach, but will laterally shift the outgoing reach, steering it.

The pivot structure is composed basically of two parts, one of which is fixed and the other of which is rotatable. One of these parts is mounted on the yoke of the steering roll itself, and the other part is mounted on a framework which is supported from the structure of the printing press itself. This latter framework may be considered a base, since it is fixed and carries the weight of the entire structure. Each of the base and mounting yoke has a slidab le track or guide and the respective parts of the pivot structure have slide means in the form of blocks respectively engaged with the guides of the base and yoke. The slide means or block of each part is normally clamped or otherwise secured to its track or guide, but both can be released to enable joint sliding along the both tracks or guides to shift the entire pivot structure. Suitable manual drive means are provided to enable this to be accomplished, and likewise, means are provided to keep the yoke and base connected to one another to prevent relative longitudinal shifting while the pivot structure is being moved.

Reference may be initially had to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6 for the general discussion of the invention. These three views show overall illustrations of structures embodying the invention in which some inconsistency has been introduced intentionally in order best to illustrate the important components of the invention. This is of no importance, since there will normally be variations in structure between installations and conceivably between multiple installations on the same press. If, for example, the view of FIG. 1 is considered to be taken from the work side of the printing press, the manual pivot structure shifting mechanism is seen to be on the right side of the view so that when seen in FIG. 2, the crank is behind the base. The work side of a press is that side from which the pressmen enter to make adjustments, repairs and the side from which the press is observed and controlled. The control and adjustment apparatus, instruments, electromagnetic scanning means, and the like are located for the most part on the work side, while the interconnecting gears, belts, and structure not usually requiring adjustment are located on the opposite side of the press, called the gear side.

FIG. 6 is deliberately reversed, showing the hydraulic device for swinging the steering roll on what would normally be the gear side, but only to enable the lllustration of the structure in a better perspective.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a large printing press is designated generally by the reference character 20 and it may have structural members on the work side 22 and on the gear side 24 between which there is mounted a sturdy beam 26 by means of end plates 28 and 30 welded to the beam ends and suitably secured to the respective structural members 22 and 24 by any suitable fasteners such as bolts and the like. This beam 26 is illustrated in FIG. 6 as a channel member with the trough upward, but this may be formed of any suitable sturdy members, such as angle irons or Hbeams, providing a cross bracing structure. In FIG. 1, for example, the cross bracing structure, which comprises the beam 26 is formed of an assemblage of structural beams 32 and 33, each providing one of the walls of the channel formation. Thefront wall will be considered 33, and the rear wall 32.

The steering roll 36 comprises a polished elongate metal cylinder provided with trunnions 38 by means of which the roll is journalled for rotation on its elongate axis in anti-friction bearings 40 of any suitable construction. The bearings 40 in turn are mounted inside end brackets 42 whose structure is best seen by examining FIGS. 1 and 6. The horizontal axis of rotation of the 4g. steering roll 36 centers at 44 in FIG. 1, but the brackets 42 are secured to an elongate sturdy beam 46 ofiset from said axis 44. The beam 46 is shown as a channelshaped structural metal member, trough portion opening upward, and the brackets 42 each have a U-shaped bottom portion 43 integral therewith, which straddles the sides of the beam 46 and is secured thereto by suitable bolts 50. The assemblage of the beam 46 and brackets 42 is considered the yoke supporting the steering roll 36, and is designated by the general reference character 52.

The cross bracing structure comprising the beam 26 and its associated structural members will be termed the base 54-. This base 54 is fixed, and may be considered a part of the framework of the printing press, the foundation supporting the same, or the like. Thus, it could conceivably be supported by the concrete or steel foundation of the press.

A pivot or swivel structure designated generally 56 (see for example, FIGS. 5 and 10) connects the base 54 with the yoke 52, but as will be apparent from FIG. 1, the vertical axis 58 of the pivot structure is spaced from the axis 44 by the distance R which is the radius of the steering roll 36.

The pivot structure 56 basically comprises a part which is fixed to and capable of rotating on a vertical axis with the yoke 52 and its steering roll 36, and a second part which is fixed to the base 54 and supports the first part in a swivel connection. The structure generally described above is capable of taking many different forms. For example, there can be a vertical stud secured to the bottom of the yoke 52 engaging in a socket serving as a thrust bearing, the socket being mounted on the top of the base; there could be a reversal of structures, with the socket on the bottom of the yoke 52 and the stud on the top of the base 54, etc. Three different pivot structures are shown in sectional views in FIGS. 5, 10 and 11, and these will be described in detail.

The respective parts of the pivot or swivel structures are capable of being slided to different locations along the base and yoke to change the lateral position of the vertical axis of the pivot structure, but this will also be explained hereinafter.

The paper web is unwound from a reel carrying a large roll of the same, called the white roll (not shown) and this roll is capable of being shifted longitudinally in order to accommodate radical departures of the web from centered position. The white roll moves only when certain switches are closed, as for example limit switches at opposite ends of the maximum swing of the steering roll. In FIG. 1, the Web, which is designated generally 60 is shown being led over a large diameter idler roll 62 to provide an oncoming reach 64 that passes around the steering roll 36 and becomes the outgoing reach 66. This latter reach moves parallel to the reach 64 although in an opposite direction, an arrangement which has been found to give best results.

The outgoing reach passes a scanner structure 68 and its edge moves through the slot 70 of the scanner 68 so that the edge will intercept a beam of light impinging upon a photoelectric cell to produce an electrical signal which is used for centering the web. Lateral position of said edge will control the amount of light passing to the photocell. None of the structure of the scanner 68 is shown, and the nature and operation thereof is not material to this invention, except that the invention is intended for use with some form of signalling means which will serve to swing the steering roll 36.

The scanner 68 is mounted for adjustable sliding movement on a pair of rails 72 which are secured between the press structural members 22 and 24. Suitable clamps enable the scanner 78 to be fixed at any desired position along the length of the rails.

In this structure only one scanner is shown. The error signal from this scanner may be compared with a fixed signal from an electrical source of constant potential, for example, the comparison resulting in a signal which is related to the deviation of the web 6i) from a chosen centered position. In other installations, there may be two scanners mounted on the rails 72, one on each side of the web 60 on the outgoing reach. The two-scanner system provides a comparison signal which cancels equal signals so that the web maintains its posi tion related to true center. In cases where the width of the web varies, since the single scanner system operates with reference to one edge, perfect centering will not be maintained, but this system is nevertheless useful.

Both of the electrical systems for the above arrangements are described in detail and claimed in said pending application Serial No. 80l,503.

The web 6t) passes over another idler roll 74 which is mounted between the structural members 22 and Z4, and leads the web to other parts of the printing press In later locations, there may be other systems operating on the web which are here not shown.

In the above mentioned systems, or in any system with which the invention herein is intended to be used, there are usually two signals in the form of direct currents which flow through the respective windings of a differential electromagnetic valve to control the application of hydraulic fluid pressure to the opposite sides of a cylinder. The relative pressure will determine the amount of movement of the piston and hence the piston rod. The rod is secured to the steering roll, and this will swing the roll. As the roll swings, the error signal decreases to a position where there is no differential, and at this condition, theoretically the web is centered relative to the printing press, i.e., the scanners.

In FIG. 2 a hydraulic pump and the valve are located near the steering roll structure, and are designated generally 76. The two hydraulic cables 78 and 89 extend to opposite ends of a hydraulic cylinder 82 which is engaged in a clamp 84 identified in FIG. 1 and mounted to the plate 28 so that the hydraulic cylinder is fixed relative to the base 54. Another clamp 86 is engaged over the end of the cylinder shown at 82 in FIG. 7 and this clamp has an upwardly extending standard 88 to which is secured a bracket 99. A position indicating potentiometer 92 is mounted on the bracket 99 its cable being shown at 94, and its shaft 96 is coupled to a geared pinion 98 (see FIGS. 1 and 7) driven by a rack 160 the end of which is secured to a rigid link Hi2 mounted on the end of the piston rod 194. The operation and construction of the position indicating structure comprise the subject matter of a co-pending patent application Serial No. 858,771, filed December 10, 1959, in the name of Willard M. Walthall, entitled Steering Roll Indicating and Adjusting Apparatus, and assigned to the same assignee as this application.

In FIGS. 1 and 6 the connection between the cylinder 32 and the yoke 52 is illustrated. The piston rod has a second end 101 which has an eye end 163 linked to a rod 105 depending from an angle bracket 197 secured to the side of the right hand mounting bracket 42. Reciprocation of the piston rod will swing the yoke 52. The connection of eye end 163 may be capable of slight lateral movement to obviate the need for mounting the cylinder on a pivot due to the arcuate path of the rod 195 during winging movement.

As previously explained, it is often desired to run a web which does not occupy the entire width of the steering roll as, and in so doing, the web is shifted one side or the other of the actual center of the press. This is required for certain kinds of paper folding systems, such as for example, gate fold, 2-fold, etc. in any event, it is advantageous to be able readily to move the pivotal axis 58 right and left.

In FIG. 5 there is illustrated in sectional view, a form of slidable pivot structure which can be used with the 6 invention, and which may be associated with the installations illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 6.

The beam as in this case is a channel-shaped structural metal member, trough portion opening upward. To the bottom surface of the transverse connecting floor 106 there is secured an elongate dovetail cross-section strip of metal forming a guide strip 103. Bolts 1. 10 pass through the channel-shaped beam and engage along the length of the guide 1%. A split block 112 is engaged slidably upon the guide strip 1% and for this purpose is provided with a conformingly shaped interior groove 114 within which the dovetail configuration of the guide strip 1%?) matingly engages. The front (right hand as in FIG. 5) portion 116 of the block is removable and a portion of the conforming groove 114i is formed therein, said portion being secured in place by suitable bolts 118 with lock washers or the like, that freely pass through the portion 116 and engage tapped holes along the length f the block 112. Taking up on the bolts 118 clamps the dovetail formation of the guide strip 108 between the parts of the block 112 and prevents sliding movement of the block relative to the guide. Loosening the bolts 11S enables the sliding movement to take place.

The center of the block has a depending stud or stem 129 which may be seated in a suitable opening bored in the block 112 and welded in place to be integral therewith. This stem 12% may be considered the portion of the pivotal structure that is fixed relative to the yoke 52 (when the bolts 118 are tightened in locking con dition). A thrust bearing structure 122 receives the stern and may be considered the portion of the pivot structure as which is rotatable relative to the yoke 52. There is provided a verticaily arranged sleeve 124 with a shoulder 126 formed at its upper end for receiving the outer ring of a ball bearing 128 of any conventional construction. A reduced section 1343 of the stem engages upon the inner ring of the bearing 128. A second shoulder 132 is formed in the other end of the sleeve 124 for seating a second ball bearing 134 that engage another reduced section I136 of the stem 120. A sleeve 138 spaces the inner rings of the bearings and the structure is held assembled by means of a nut 140 engaged over the threaded end of the stem.

The sleeve 124- is set into a suitable socket which is formed in a split block 142 the construction of which is not dissimilar from the construction of the block 112. There is a front portion 144 which is clamped in place by Suitable bolts 146, engaging the split block 1412 upon the dovetail formation of a guide strip 147 that is bolted along the length of the floor 143 of the channel-shaped structural steel member 26 by the bolts 15%. A suitable conforming dovetail groove 152 is formed in the split block 1.42 and its front part 14d.

An elongate block 154 is welded to the front surface of the sleeve 124, and the block is providedwith a horizontal passageway through which there extends an elongate threaded rod 156. The passageway in the block is threaded, either by virtue of the presence of any suitable removable nut structure or by actual threads cut in the block, it being immaterial which, so long as the threaded rod is threadedly engaged in the block 154. There is a pointer 158 secured to the front of the block which moves over the front surface 33 of the structural beam 26, to cooperate with suitable markings 160 provided on the surface to indicate the position of the block 154 and the pivotal structure 56, the latter obviously being connected to the block 154.

At the opposite ends, the threaded rod is journalled in suitable bearings at 16.2 and 16d (FIGS. 3 and 4) which are disposed in brackets and 168 having feet 170 and 172 respectively that are fastened to the ends of the strip 147. At one end of the threaded rod 156, the left, in FIGS. 3 and 4-, there is mounted a beveled gear 174 which is splined or pinned to rotate with the rod. A bracket 176 is bolted to the front wall 33 of the beam 26 by suitable fasteners, and mounts a hand crank 178 that enables manual rotation of a shaft 136 journalled in the bracket 1'76. The inner end of the shaft mounts a second beveled gear 182 which meshes with the gear 174, so that turning the crank will rotate the rod 156. A look clutch operated by the knurled knob 186 enables the crank 17% to be manually locked in any desired position against accidental movement.

\From the description thus far, it will be seen that the pivotal or swivel structure 56 can be shifted along the length of the yoke 52 and the base 54, simply by rotating the crank 178. For this purpose, there are several prerequisites: (1) the bolts 113 of the block 112 must be loose to enable the block to slide on the guide strip 108; (2) the bolts 146 of the block 142 must be loose to enable the block to slide on the guide strip 147; (3) the locking clutch must have been released by unscrewing the knurled knob 186; and (4) finally the yoke 52 must be immobile relative to the base 54 or the entire yoke will be carried one way or the other as the crank 178 is rotated, simply by virtue of its. weight resting on the pivotal structure 56 and moving with it.

In order to meet this last pre-requisite, a structure is provided which is shown at the left hand end of FIG. 6, and in detail in FIG. 8. An L-shaped bracket 1% is secured to the base 54 by suitable bolts 122 threaded through the wall 33. This bracket presents a horizontal platform 194 to a similar platform 196 which is parallel with and spaced above said platform 196. The platform 196 is part of a second L-shaped bracket 198 secured to the yoke 52. The bracket 1% is conveniently bolted to the bracket 42 by means of the same bolts 50 that secure the portion 48 to the structural member 46.

The platform 1% has a spring pressed plunger 199 mounted thereon in a suitable shell 2496) that is threaded into a tapped hole in the platform and held at suitable height by a lock nut 202. The bottom end of the plunger can be seen at 204, emerging from the bottom of the platform 196 and engaging within a suitable socket 206 formed in the platform 194. A lateral pin 208 engages in an axially extending slot 210 formed in the shell 200 limiting downward movement of the plunger. The plunger 199 is biased by a suitable spring (not shown) to move downward, and can be raised by means of a knob 212 on the upper end of the plunger. If the plunger is raised and the knob 212 twisted, the pin 208 will be rotated out of alignment with the slot 210 and the plunger bottom end 204 Will be withdnawn and retained thus withdrawn from the socket 206. Under these latter conditions, the yoke 52 and base 54 are free to move relative to one another, as when the steering roll apparatus is operating to automatically center the web of paper passing over the same. When the bottom end 204 of the plunger is engaged in socket 206, the yoke and base cannot move relative to one another, and hence as the crank 178 is rotated, the only thing that can move is the pivot structure 56 relative to both yoke and base.

The swinging movement of the yoke 52 can be limited by suitable stop members 214 and 216 threaded adjustably through simple plate brackets 218 and 220 respectively secured to the front and rear walls 33 and 32 of the beam 26. A triangular depending plate 222 secured to the bottom of floor 106 cooperates with the stop members, being disposed between them.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of the structure described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The modified structure differs only in the respect that there is a second block 224 secured to the sleeve 124 opposite the block 154 but which is not threaded. Instead a slide rod 226 passes through the same to assist in supporting the pivot structure 56 and in guiding the same during its sliding movements. The ends of the rod are secured in any suitable manner, as for example in brackets 228 bolted to the floor 148 of the beam 26. This arrangement is especially suitable for use in installations where the amount of movement expected is relatively greater than in the case of the structures of FIGS.

3 and 4. Instead of being mounted on the guide strip 147, as in FIG. 3, the threaded rod 156 of FIG. 9 is journa-lled on a bracket 230 that is spaced beyond the end of the strip 147. Instead of a simple crank 178, a hand wheel 232 may be used. In all other respects the structure of FIGS. 9 and 10 is similar to that of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5.

In FIG. 11 there is illustrated in sectional view another modified form of the invention. Here the swivel structure 56 is formed of a pair of bearing support blocks 240 and 242 each having a pair of ball bearings 244 and 246 at upper and lower ends thereof. The blocks 240 and 242 have lateral arms such as shown at 248, 250, 252 and 254, the former pair being integral with the upper block 246, and the latter pair being integral with the lower block 242. Guide rods 256 and 258 are mounted on the beam 46 and are engaged by suitable slide bearing formations 26d and 262 formed in the ends of the arms 248 and 254) respectively. Similar formations 264 and 266 in the arms 252 and 254 slide on guide rods 268 and 270 mounted on beam 26. A vertical shaft 272 passes through both blocks 240 and 242 and there are pinions 274 and 276 secured to the shaft ends for simultaneous rotation therewith. Each pinion meshes with a rack, there being two racks 278 and 280 respectively secured to the beams 46 and 26 respectively. A threaded nut 282 is secured to the arm 254 and engages the threaded rod 2S4 which may be rotated in a manner not dissimilar from those structures heretofore described. A hand wheel is shown at 286.

In FIG. 11, the need for the pro-requisite described as (4) above is eliminated. If the block 242 is moved relative to the base 54 along the length thereof, since the rack 280 is secured to the beam 26, the pinion 276 must rotate. This rotates the shaft 272 and the pinion 274. Since the pinion 274 is meshed with the rack 278 then the yoke 52 is also translated relative block 240. For normal operation means are provided to disconnect the pinion 276 from shaft 272. For example a set screw 288 can be loosened, or a clutch can be provided to disconnect pinion 276. Another method would be to provide for lateral shifting of one or the other of the racks 278 and 280 by any suitable means such as adjustable supports.

In the specification set forth above, reference has been made to means for locking the pivot structure in place after it has been moved. The arrangement of FIG. 11 eliminates the need for the clamping of the blocks such as 112 to the dovetail guides. The necessary locking is achieved by fixing one of a rack and pinion connection. In the other embodiments, it will be noted that the block 154 and threaded rod 156 comprise a nut and screw connection between the pivot structure and the base. This is an irreversible drive, hence a simple guide could be substituted for the bottom clamp-block 142 and slide 147 in a small structure where the nut-screw connection is sturdy enough to retain the pivot structure in any given position.

Although not illustrated herein, the yoke of the invention can be guided in its swinging by providing suitable rollers and tracks on the ends thereof confining sway and steadying the yoke, as described in said co-pending application, Serial No. 718,057.

The axis 58 referred to herein 'as vertical need not be so arranged but may on occasion be horizontal, where the steering roll is mounted for swinging in a vertical plane. Thus the word vertical is used in a relative sense, and signifies an axis which is perpendicular to the axis 44 which is substantially horizontal in all structures, although departing slightly from horizontal as it swings in those installations where the plane of swivel movement is vertical.

It is believed that the invention has been sufficiently 9 described so that the advantages and features thereof should be completely clear to those skilled in this art, and it is also considered obvious that many variations are capable of being made without in any way departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. The combination of a steering roll adapted to engage a moving web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach, a yoke mounting the steering roll for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a base, a swivel structure between the base and yoke for supporting the yoke from the base, on a pivotal axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis to enable the swivelling of said roll for adjusting the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, means enabling translative movement of the swivel structure along both said base and yoke to shift said pivotal axis to any one of a plurality of differ ent locations relative said base and yoke, comprising, slide connections between said swivel structure and each of said yoke and base, and means for lock-ing the slide connections against sliding.

2. The combination of a steering roll adapted to en gage a moving web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach, a yoke mounting the steering roll for rotation on a substantially horizontal axis, a base, a swivel structure between the base and yoke for supporting the yoke from the base on a pivotal axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis to enable the swivelling of said roll for adjusting the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, a lockable slide connection between said swivel structure and each of said base and yoke to enable translation and placement of said swivel structure at any one of a plurality of different locations along said yoke and base whereby the pivotal axis for said steering roll is adjustably related thereto, and means coupling said yoke and base together during said translation to prevent relative movement therebetween.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which the pivotal axis is spaced from said horizontal axis.

4. A steering roll structure for guiding a flexible web through a machine operating upon the web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach, which comprises, a support base fixed relative to the machine and having a swivel structure slidably mounted thereon and capable of translative movement along a path transverse of the direction of movement of the web for enabling the swivelling of said roll to adjust the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, a yoke having a steering roll journalled thereon for rotation on an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the swivel structure and making a connection with the swivel structure, said swivel structure slidable on the yoke along a second path which is substantially parallel with the said first path when the said first path is substantially parallel with said steering roll axis, said support base having drive means for sliding said swivel structure to trans-late said swivel structure relative to said yoke.

5. A steering roll structure as claimed in claim 4 in which said yoke and base support have means coupling the yoke to said base support when said paths are arranged parallel to enable sliding of the swivel structure without movement of the yoke relative to said base support.

6. In a steering roll construction for guiding the passage of a flexible web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach through a machine which is operating on the web and which includes a yoke having said roll journalled thereon for rotation on a horizontal axis to enable the swivelling of said roll to adjust the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, a base, and a pivot structure between said yoke and base for supporting said yoke upon said base at a location between the ends of the yoke while permitting swinging said yoke on an axis perpendicular to said horizontal axis at said location; the invention herein comprising an adjustable connection between said pivot structure and each oi said yoke and base enabling said pivot structure and vertical axis to be shifted parallel with said horizontal axis relative to said yoke and base for changing the said location relative to said yoke.

7. In a steering roll construction for guiding the passage of a flexible web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach through a machine which is operating on the web and which includes a yoke having said roll journalled thereon for rotation on a horizontal axis to enable the swivelling of said roll for adjusting the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, a base, and a pivot structure between said yoke and base located between the ends of the yoke and providing a swinging axis 'for said roll perpendicular to said horizontal axis while supporting said roll upon said base at said pivot structure; the invention herein which comprises said pivot structure having a pair of parts coupled together in swivel engagement, a sliding connection between each part and one of said base and yoke permitting sliding movement of said pivot structure parallel with said horizontal axis to adjust said pivot structure relative to said roll and means at both connect-ions to prevent sliding movement at any location to which same may have been moved without impairment of said swivel engagement.

8. In a steering roll construction for guiding the pas sage of a flexible web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach through a machine which is operating on the web and which includes a yoke having said roll journalled thereon for rotation on a horizontal axis to enable the swivelling of said roll for adjusting the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, a base structure fixed relative to the machine, and a two-part swivel structure mounted on the base structure with one part secured to the base structure and the other part secured to the yoke between the ends of said yoke whereby to support the yoke for swinging movement about a pivotal axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis; the invention herein which comprises a slide connection between each part and one of said yoke and base structure defining a path of translative movement of said swivel structure substantially parallel with said horizontal axis relative to both said base structure and yoke whereby said swivel structure is adjustable with respect to said roll, and means for securing each slide connection at any desired location along said path.

9. A structure as claimed in claim 8 in which said securing means is constructed to secure each slide connection simultaneously.

10. A structure as claimed in claim 8 in which one of said base structure and yoke is provided with screw and nut means coupled to said swivel structure adapted to be driven to move said swivel structure.

11. In a steering roll construction for guiding the passage of a flexible web having an incoming reach and an outgoing reach through a machine which is operating on the web and which includes a yoke having said roll journalled thereon for rotation on a horizontal axis to enable the swivelling of said roll for adjusting the position of said outgoing reach while said web is moving, a base structure fixed relative to the machine, and a two-part swivel structure mounted on the base structure with one part secured to the base structure and the other part secured to the yoke between the ends of said yoke whereby to support the yoke for swinging movement about a pivotal axis perpendicular to the horizontal axis; the invention herein which comprises a slide connection between each part and one of said yoke and base structure defining a path of translative movement of said swivel structure substantially parallel with said horizontal axis whereby said swivel structure is adapted to be adjusted relative to both said base structure and yoke, an irreversible drive means mounted on said base structure connected with said swivel structure and operable to move said swivel structure along said path.

12. A structure as claimed in claim 11 in which said irreversible drive means comprises a nut and a screw, one of said nut and screw being coupled with said swivel structure, and means for rotating the other of said nut and screw.

13. A device as claimed in claim 11 in which said irreversible drive comprises a threaded nut, secured to said swivel structure, a threaded screw passing through said nut and journa lled for rotation on said base structure, and means for rotating said screw to translate the nut along its axis.

14. A device as claimed in claim 6 in which releasable means are provided for coupling the yoke and base together while shifting the pivot structure.

15, A device as claimed in claim 6 in which releasable means are provided for coupling the yoke and base together in addition to the coupling provided by the swivel structure to prevent relative translative movement between base and yoke during the shifting of the pivot structure, said releasable means comprising a reciprocab-le plunger on one of said base and yoke and a socket on the other of said base and yoke, the plunger and socket axes being aligned when said yoke and base are in centered positions relative one another.

16. For use in pivoting a steering roll adapted to engage a moving web upon which print is to be registered, said roll rotatable about one axis displaced from the plane of the web and engaging said web along a line transverse to the direction of movement of said web, the improvement comprising means for pivoting said roll about an axis perpendicular to said one axis responsive to the displacement of said web along said line, "and means for adjusting the position of said perpendicular axis transversely with respect to said roll without moving said roll transversely with respect to said web.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

